How I would use social media to find a job
Posted: March 11th, 2009 | Author: Satish | Filed under: Marketing | Comments
If I lost my job tomorrow, I would be okay. Sure it wouldn’t be the best way to spend a rainy day in an economic downturn – and I really enjoy what I do – but I certainly wouldn’t lose too much sleep over it.
It’s not because there’s a line-up of people waiting to hire me, because, well, there isn’t. It’s because I’ve been proactive with my personal brand and feel confident leveraging my networks to get back in action.
There are lots of A-list blog posts about this topic, so I don’t want to talk about what you could or should do. Rather, I want to tell you what I would do.
I keep an active professional profile on LinkedIn (aka my online resume) which today sets me up with a bank of 230+ connections that I actually know and have within reach. I would connect with them first and foremost. Note that I don’t add random people to LinkedIn, which keeps it extremely relevant and useful.
Many things you read will say to search for people that work at companies you want to work for, but this isn’t what I would use LinkedIn for. I would work my direct contacts only and maybe relevant people they happen to know here and there.
I also keep this profile tailored to what my career objectives and interests are (not just what I am doing today), and leave a little to imagination to encourage real contact.
I spend more time today on Twitter than on any other social network. Whereas tools like Facebook allow me to amplify (or form) deeper relationships, Twitter has given me the amazing power of weak links.
Having a weak connection with 550+ people is like having 550+ “hey-buddies” at your office. You know who they are at a glance, but may not know anything else about them. It’s more than enough to say “hey” anytime you want, and just enough to someday ask for a stapler if you need one.
I would use Twitter as my primary means to meet people at my targeted employers. Over the years I’ve been able to interact with normally out-of-reach people exclusively through replying (@) or messaging (d) them on Twitter.
If it’s gotten me speakers, sponsors, referrals, and coffees, I think it can get my foot in the door at a company too. Even if that’s just an informational with someone there, it can go a long way.
By maintaining a personal blog and doing a reasonable job of promoting it, you build out a group of people that most certainly want to know what you think and what you’re up to (which is why you’re reading this, right?).
For the most part, yes it will be a sub-segment of your LinkedIn and Twitter connections. But it will be the sub-segment of those networks that will really go out of their way to lend a hand, will have a comprehensive understanding of the value you can bring, and will know what things fit you the best.
I would actually start the whole job recovery plan with a blog post to explain the state of affairs and the simple fact that “I’m looking for a new job”. From there, it’s like letting the job come to you.
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There’s no magic formula in the end and certainly no guarantees. Still, there is something to be said about how much better off someone with a developed personal brand is versus the next guy when a bad situation hits.
The most successful job searchers today will be those that combine the non-traditional and traditional elements. You need to build up strong networks and a kick-ass resume. You need to be addicted to Twitter and to handing out business cards. You need to write on a blog and handwrite letters.
But most important of all, you need to be ready.
S
